Multiple compartment container



J. T. CRITCHLOW 2,893,604

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

July 7, 1959 Filed July 23, 1957 INVENTOR.

y 7,1959 J. T. CRITCHLOW 2,893,604

' MULTIPLE 'COMPARTMENT CONTAINER Filed July 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig, 3 Fig. 4.

IN VEN TOR.

far/nu United States Patent Oflice 2,893,604 Patented July 7, 1959 MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CONTAINER James T. Critchlow, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 23, 1957, Serial No. 673,731

Claims. (Cl. 222-129) This invention relates to containers for granular and other flowable materials, and particularly to containers for the simple and eflicient handling and dispensing of such materials.

Devices of the prior art which have been employed to dispense as well as hold materials have generally required an elaborate structure or an added and expensive dispensing mechanism. Thus, somedevices have been developed which have required the insertion in a cardboard container of 'a separate metallic structure defining a pouring spout. Other structures have been developed for this purpose which employ a folding pouring arrangement integral with the carton. The structures of the prior art, however, have either been limited to dispensing only certain kinds or a small variety of products,

container of simple and inexpensive construction which provides both effective storage protection and easy dispensing operation for a wide variety of products.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved container for the ready and separate dispensation of a number of products.

These and other objects of this invention are provided by employing, in one form of the invention, outer and inner cartons. An outer carton of rectangular shape may have mounted within it an inner carton of substantially like shape. The outer carton may be open along one narrow side wall, with only a small web extending across the ,opening at the bottom of the outer carton. The inner carton may have a slanted open top and be so arranged that the narrow wall of the inner carton which is atthe open side of the outer carton fills the aperture and'abuts against the top of the outer carton. Thus the inner carton may be pivoted about the web member, exposing the open end of the inner carton to a controllable degree for pouring out the contents of the inner carton.

The extent of movement of the inner carton with respect the accompanying drawings, which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention, showing an inner carton fully inserted within an outer carton;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 1, showing the inner carton partially pivoted out of the outer carton;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of another device in accordance with the invention, showing a pair of inner cartons within a single outer carton;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of still another device in accordance with the invention showing four inner cartons within one outer carton;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, of a device in accordance with the invention for controlling the extent of movement of the inner carton;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of an alternate arrangement of a device in accordance with the invention, showing an alternate method of sealing the inner carton; and

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary view of a device in accordance with the invention, showing another arrangement for sealing the carton.

A device in accordance with the invention, referring now to Fig. 1, may comprise a container for cereal, sugar, salt or in general any granular or other flowable material. The container may comprise an outer carton 10 of substantially rectangular form and including top and bottom walls and a pair of relatively broad side walls and a pair of relatively narrow side walls. The outer carton 10 is substantially open along one of the narrow side walls, the edges of the adjoining broad side walls and the top wall defining an aperture or window 12 in place of the narrow wall at that point. The terms top and bottom are of course relative, and are taken here as in the posi tions seen in the drawing. The outer carton 10 is provided with a web 14 extending across the apertured narrow wall adjacent the window 12 and along the bottom portion of the outer carton 10. As shown, the web 14 may be integral with the bottom wall and the adjoining broad walls of the outer carton 10. The web 14 may also be a separate element ailixed by adhesive or other means between the two broad walls, or may simply be a piece of adhesive itself.

In its unopened or storage condition, the container includes an inner carton 20 within the outer carton 10. The inner carton 20 is similar in shape to the outer carton 10, being generally rectangular in form. The inner carton 20 is only slightly smaller than the outer carton 10,

so that the inner carton 20 moves slidably but not loosely within the outer carton 10. The inner carton 20 has a top 22 which is at an angle with respect to the remainder of the sides of the inner carton 20. The only opening in the inner carton 20 is at the top 22. The slant of the top 22 is selected such that an acute angle is formed between the top'wall of the outer carton 10 and the slanted top 22 of the inner carton 20. The direction of slant is such that the highest narrow wall of the inner carton 20 registers with and fills the window 12 in the open narrow wall of the outer carton 10. The top of this exposed narrow wall of the inner carton 20 abuts against the top wall of the outer carton 10. A tab 24 in this exposed narrow wall of the inner carton 20 can be folded out to provide a handle by which the inner carton 20 may be partially pulled out from the outer carton 10.

A sealing wrapper 50 may be employed to completely encompass the inner carton 20 and to provide an effective protectionfor the contents (not shown) of the innor carton 20.

As shown in Fig. 1, the container may be employed for indefinite storage without exposure of the contents to the elements. The sealing wrapper 5t protects the contents against the atmosphere and the fit of the cartons 10,. 20prevents inadvertent opening. For'dispensing the contents, however, the-inner carton 20 need only'be tilted Withrespect tothe outer carton 10. To accomplish this,

the sealing Wrapper 50 may be broken and the tab 24-- employed to pivot the inner carton 20-about the web 14 at thebottom of the outer carton. As shown in Fig.1 2, therefore, a portion-of the slanted top 22 of the inner carton 20 is thereby extended out from the top wallof the1outer carton 10. An extremely convenient pouring spout of large size and in an easily maneuverable position is thereby provided.- If desired, the contents of theinner carton- 20 can be inspected and removed'through the wide aperture formed by the slanted top 22 and the top wall of the outer carton When the inner carton carton 10 is defined by the degree of slant of the slantedtop 22 with respect to the top Wall of the outer carton 10. In practice the type of wall materials which are usually employed, such as cardboard, do not present any tendency to lock the inner carton 20 into the fully inserted position-.. Thusthe inner carton 20 can readily be turned against the slightly yielding material of the outer carton 10 until the slanted top 22 registers with the top wall of the outer carton 10.

The arrangement thus provided is particularly suitable for further utilization in other, combination, arrange ments. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, an outer carton 30 having a central dividingwall 32 may include-upper and lower inner cartons 34, 35, each arranged to pivot. in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Or, as shown in Fig. 4, an outer carton 40 may have a vertical dividing wall 42 and a horizontal dividing wall 43 bisecting the carton 40 so as to provide four quadrant spaces of equal size within the outer carton 40. Within these spaces may be mounted individual inner cartons 44, 45, 46, 47 each disposed in a diflerent one of the quadrant spaces. The upper and lower inner cartons 44, 45 on the left side.

(as viewed in the drawing) can thus open to' the left side while the inner cartons 46,- 47 on the right side can opento that side. If desired, the vertical dividing wall 42.need notbe employed in this arrangement.

The integrated arrangement provided. by this invention makes possible the use ofother features having particular advantages for specific operations. It may be desired,

for example, to provide limited flowor full flow from a container. For this purpose, as seen in Fig. 5, the slanted top 22 of the inner carton 20 may be closed and provided with a notch 26 and the top wall of the outer carton 10 may be provided with a matching triangular projection. 16 at a selected point. For limited flow control the top of the inner carton 20 may include a perforated web 28, or shaker spout, in addition to a fullopening 29, or pouring spout. When the inner carton 20 of this arrangement is pivoted some selected amount, therefore the projection- 16 engagesthe notch 26 so as to restrain the inner carton 20 from further movement. Thus the contents can be poured through the shaker spout 28. For full flow, the inner carton 20 need only be fully pivoted past the projection 16, to expose the pouring spout 29; The resiliency of the container materials usually employed, such as plastic or cardboard, insures that neither the notch 26 or projection 16 will be destroyed. Otherwise the projection 16 can be of resilient material.

Various alternative methods for sealing the container against the atmosphere may be employed. As shown in Fig.. 6, to which reference is now made,..the seal' may be formed by a sealing tape 54 placed around the aperture 4 12 along the narrow wall of the outer carton 10. This sealing tape 54 may be adhesively aflixed to both the outer carton 10 and the inner carton 20.

Referring to Fig. 7, it may be seen that an outer wrapper 58 may be employed around the outer carton 10 for effective protection of the contents within the inner carton 20. A method or sealing need not be used, of course, if'the type of product employed and the conditions under which it is handled permit.

Thus there has been described an improved container for storing and dispensing fiowable' materials. The .container is characterized by simplicity of construction, effective protection of the materials against the atmosphere and easy dispensation of the materials.

I claim:

1. A container for easy dispensation of flowable materials comprising: a substantially rectangular outer cartonhavingbroad and narrow side walls, a top'wall and a bottom: wall and being open along, one of thenarrow side walls; a web extending across the open. narrow side wall adjacent the bottom wall of said outer carton; and a rectangular inner carton: arranged to fit slidably within: said outer carton,.said inner carton having a slanted and at. least partially open end adjacent the top wall of said outer carton, the direction of slant being such that an. edge of said inner carton at the open narrow end thereof abuts against the top wall of the outer carton, whereby said inner carton may pivot about said Web to expose the slanted open end of said inner carton to an extent limited by'the engagement'of the slanted top with the end wall of the outer carton.

2. A container for-easydispensation of fi'owable ma-- terials comprising: a substantially rectangular outer carton having broad and narrow side walls, a top wall anda bottom wall and being open along one of the narrow side walls;'a web member coupled to said outer carton and extending across the open narrow side-wall: adjacent the bottom wall of said outer carton; arectangular inner cartonsimilar inshape to said outer cartonand arranged to fit slidably withinsaid outer carton, saidinner carton: having an open top end juxtaposed adjacent the top wall of the outer carton,'the open top end of said inner carton being slanted at an angle with respect to the top wall of said .outer carton,v with the narrow wall of said inner carton adjacent the open. narrow side Wall ofthe outer carton abutting against thetop wall of the outercarton; a sealingmember encompassing said inner carton; and a tab mounted in the side wall of said inner cartonwhich extends through the open narrow side wall of the outer carton, by which the inner carton may be pivoted against said web member to an extent limited by the engagement. of theslanted top with the top wall of the outer carton.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 above, and including in addition a sealing strip extending around the edge of the aperture defined by the open edges of said outer carton, to seal the inner carton. against the atmosphere.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 above and including in addition a sealing member encompassing said outer carton.

5. A container for flowable materials comprising: a substantially rectangular outer carton, said outer carton having an aperture along one of the narrow sides thereof; and

a substantially rectangular inner carton having edges defining an open end portion which is normally within said outer carton on a side adjacentthe aperture, said inner carton being slanted at said open end and fitting within said outer carton so thatsaid inner carton can be tilted with respect to said outer carton through said aperture to project a portion of said inner carton outside said outer carton and to expose a part of the open end of said inner carton through the aperture in said outer carton.

6. A storage and dispensing container comprising: an'

Outer carton having a substantially flat top wall and including an aperture in an open side substantially normal to said top wall; an inner carton within said outer carton and having a side wall substantially filling the open side of said outer carton, said inner carton having an at least partially open top portion slanted at a selected angle with respect to the top wall of said outer carton; and a web member on said outer carton adjacent said aperture and on the opposite side of said aperture from the top wall, whereby said inner carton may be pivoted about said web member to a position at which the slanted top portion of said inner carton engages the top wall of said outer carton.

7. A device for the separate storage and dispensing of a plurality of materials comprising: a single rectangular outer carton having a top wall and being apertured at selected points in the side walls thereof; a plurality of rectangular inner cartons within said outer carton, each of said inner cartons having an at least partially open top wall slanted with respect to said outer carton top wall, the relatively longest side of each of said inner cartons being within an aperture of said outer carton side walls, each of said apertures being of suificient size as to encompass substantially all of the associated inner carton side, and means positioned at the bottom of said apertures for restraining the bottom portion of said inner cartons from movement outside said outer carton, whereby said inner cartons may pivot about said last named means.

8. A storage and dispensing container for the separate handling of a plurality of items and comprising: a substantially rectangular outer carton having a topwall, bottom wall and relatively broad side walls, at least one of the relatively narrow side walls of said carton being substantially completely open; at least one intermediate wall substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls of said outer carton and intersecting the interior of said outer carton; at least two inner cartons within said outer carton, each of said inner cartons being slidably movable with respect to said outer carton and being substantially rectangular in form except for at least partially open top portions which are slanted with respect to the top wall of said outer carton, the relatively longer sides of each of said inner cartons being registered with a diflerent opening in said outer carton narrow wall; and at least two web members, each extending across a different opening in the open narrow wall of said outer carton at a point adjacent the bottom of said opening, whereby the associated inner carton may pivot outwardly from said outer car-ton about said web member.

9. A storage and dispensing container for the separate handling and dispensing of a plurality of items and comprising: a substantially rectangular outer carton having a top wall, bottom wall, and relatively narrow side walls,

said carton being substantially open at its relatively narrow sides; a first intermediate wall substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls of said outer carton and intersecting the interior of said outer carton; a second intermediate wall substantially normal to the first intermediate wall and intersecting the interior of said outer carton such that, with said first intermediate wall, there are provided quadrant spaces within said outer carton; a plurality of inner cartons, each substantially filling a. different quadrant space within said outer carton and each having a substantially longer side registering with the associated open narrow side of the outer carton, each also including an at least partially open top portion which is slanted with respect to said top and first intermediate walls, the direction of slant being such that the inner carton decreases in height from the relatively longer side; and a plurality of web members, each extending across an open side wall of said outer carton at a point adjacent the bottom portion of a diiferent inner carton, whereby the associated inner carton may pivot independently outwardly from said outer carton about said web member.

10. A container for limited and unrestricted dispensation of fiowable materials comprising: a substantially rectangular outer carton having broad and narrow side walls, a top wall and a bottom Wall and being open along one of the narrow side walls; a web member coupled to said outer carton and extending across the open narrow side wall adjacent the bottom of said outer carton; a substantially rectangular inner carton similar in shape to said outer carton and fitting slidably within said outer carton, said inner carton having a top end adjacent the top wall of said outer carton, the top end of said inner carton being slanted at an angle with respect to the top wall of said outer carton, with the relatively longer narrow wall of said inner carton registering with the open side of said outer carton, the top end of said inner carton including a perforated portion for limited flow adjacent the relatively longer narrow Wall, an aperture for unrestricted flow adjacent the perforated portion, and a notched portion; and resiliently yieldable means mounted on the interior side of the top wall of said outer carton for yieldably engaging said notch, said notch and said yieldable means being positioned such that when they are in engagement by pivoting of said inner carton with respect to said outer carton only the perforated portion of the top end of said inner carton is exposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,487 Schroeder Feb. 7, 1939 

